A CLASS 120 CROSS-COUNTRY DMU ON THE HORIZON

Multiple units will certainly dominate the Revolution Trains catalogue from 2023, with the announcement of the distinctive Swindon Class 120 DMU, built primarily for the Western Region which took 58 of the 65 sets built between 1958 and 1961. The remaining seven were allocated to the Scottish Region.

Described as low-density DMUs due to their spacious interiors, comfortable seats and, in some of the three-car sets, a buffet counter, the Class 120 was used on Western Region secondary routes which involved long mileages and journey times.

The small batch of ScR units operated the Inverness-Aberdeen route which was a similar long distance, low density route at the time which suited the type well. Many Class 120s were reallocated to the Midland Region, based at Derby Etches Park where they worked services such as Lincoln-Crewe and the Matlock branch. In late condition, some Class 120s lost their intermediate trailers in favour of Class 101 trailers or were reduced to two-car sets.

Modifications to the Class 120 over the years, together with five different vehicles including the buffet cars, will make the Class 120 a complex project which is at the design stage, with CADs expected to be completed by the end of the year. The new model will be offered in two- and three-car formations and will build on the Class 128 parcels car project including the use of the driving mechanism. Advance ordering will be invited in 2023, but in the meantime, there is no indication of prices.

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Proposed liveries for the forthcoming ‘N’ Gauge Class 120 which are at the early design stage at the time of writing. Both two- and three- car sets will be offered by Revolution Trains which will meet the needs of transition and BR era modellers.

DMBS No. M53713 makes up one of the thee cars of Class 120 set No. 510, a former Western Region vehicle which was built as DMBC No. W50713. It was photographed at Matlock on September 4, 1985. The last Class

120 was withdrawn in 1989 as ‘Sprinterisation’ took hold.